Goodwill Announces Computer Recycling Program with Dell

January 20, 2010, News Article
Reconnect Fact Sheet
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Reconnect is a no‐charge computer recycling program for consumers in Pennsylvania
  • Reconnect is managed by Dell and Goodwill Industries. The program offers more than 1,900 drop‐off locations for consumers throughout the United States. The goal of the program is to keep used computers and computer equipment from landfills and to educate residents on the importance of proper computer recycling.
  • The program is intended to raise awareness of the importance of responsible computer disposal and give residents a free and convenient way to do the right thing with their unwanted computer equipment.
  • To date, Reconnect has diverted more than 48 thousand tons of e‐waste from landfills and created more than 250 “green jobs,” with Goodwill employees managing responsible computer disassembly and disposal.
Significance of Program to the Region
  • All proceeds of value recovered from the recycled computer equipment go to Goodwill to support job training and employment services programs.
  • Consumers can drop off computer equipment at any participating Goodwill location through out the region.
  • While computers are safe to use,they do contain some environmentally sensitive materials. These materials can be safely removed or recycled, but only if the computers are kept out of land fills in the first place. Reconnect provides an environmentally responsible solution for computer recycling.
How to Recycle an Unwanted Computer
  • Consumers can visit www.reconnectpartnership.com to locate the most convenient Goodwill donation centers and retail stores participating in the program.
  • There is no charge to drop off a computer at Goodwill. Any brand of used computer equipment is accepted.
  • Customers are responsible for removing data from their hard drives. Neither Goodwill nor Dell is liable for data removal or protection.
  • Customers may be able to deduct the value of the computer for tax purposes. Goodwill will provide donors with a donation receipt at the time of donation. Customers are encouraged to check with their tax advisors for more information.
What Happens to Donated Computer Equipment?
  •  Goodwill will accept and sort the donated computer equipment, and then it is responsibly recycled through Dell’s product recycling programs.
  • Dell’s disposition policy requires that electronic waste processed by Dell’s disposition chain is tracked and documented through out the entire chain of custody until final disposition.
  • Dell audits its recycling,refurbishment and processing vendors at least annually to ensure that they conform with Dell’s electronics disposition policy and environmental partner performance standards(available at www.dell.com/recycling).
  • Dell requires that equipment be tested and certified as “working” before it’s exported to developing countries, helping to prevent the unauthorized dumping of electronic waste in developing countries.
  • For additional information, visit: www.reconnectpartnership.com or www.dell.com/recycling
Media Contacts:

Debbie Roman,Goodwill Industries ofthe Conemaugh Valley: (814) 536‐3536, ext. 223 ormarketing@goodwilljohnstown.org“> marketing@goodwilljohnstown.org

Michelle Mosmeyer,Dell: (512) 723‐2408 or michelle_mosmeyer@dell.com

Online Shopping at Goodwill

Through the Shopgoodwill online auction site, you can experience a fun and exciting way to shop for specialty items such as one-of-a-kinds, collectibles, antiques, estate pieces, jewelry, nostalgic items, and more!

At Goodwill of the Southern Alleghenies, we know that our donors value their donations to Goodwill and want us to get the maximum value possible to support our mission. Listing these items on Shopgoodwill allows us to generate more revenue because these items go to the highest bidders who know the values of the items.

Donors can be sure that the revenue generated from the sale of their donated items on Shopgoodwill.com will support job training and employment services for people in their community – just as it does through purchases made in our 10 Goodwill Retail Stores.